Agerncy :
Panama and Peru will meet in an international friendly next month as both teams prepare to resume their 2022 FIFA World Cup qualifying campaigns.
The clash will be played on January 16 at Estadio Nacional in Peruvian capital Lima and will have a 4pm kickoff, according to a statement published on the Panamanian football federation’s official website on Friday.
Panama, who are currently fourth in the North, Central America and Caribbean zone (CONCACAF) qualifying standings, will use the match to fine-tune ahead of a triple-header of qualifiers.
The Central American team will face Costa Rica on January 27, Jamaica on January 30 and Mexico on February 2.
Peru, fifth in South America’s CONMEBOL qualifying tournament, will meet Colombia on January 27 and Ecuador on February 1.
The top three teams in CONCACAF will earn an automatic World Cup berth while the fourth-ranked side will advance to an intercontinental playoff.
In the CONMEBOL region, the top four sides will book a direct ticket to football’s showpiece event in Qatar and the fifth team will clinch a playoff spot.
